On June 2, 2009, we posted a blog concerning a herd of cattle quarantined in Nebraska, click here to view blog. On Thursday June 11, 2009, the quarantined was expanded to thirty-one other herds in the Rock, Holt, Loup, Boyd and Brown counties. Click here for Associated Press story. According to state Agriculture Director Greg Ibach,
the other 31 herds have been quarantined because the animals may have had fence-line contact with the infected herd.
The 32 quarantined herds, which must all be tested for TB, are in Rock, Holt, Loup, Boyd and Brown counties. Ibach said other herds could be added to the quarantine if investigators learn they may have contacted the infected herd.
Testing of all the quarantined herds will begin next week, but that will take a considerable amount of time to complete.
"This is a process that will take months, not weeks to complete," Ibach said.
Bovine tuberculosis is considered untreatable and all cattle in a herd are typically killed, regardless of infected or uninfected. According to the story,
[t]he other option is continued quarantine and testing. But an entire herd must have eight consecutive clean tests before the quarantine could be lifted, a process that could take years.Until the quarantine is lifted none of the herds can be sold until special permits are obtained.
Bovine tuberculosis can be transmitted from cattle to people. But Ibach assured the public, “The chances of a human being contracting this disease is virtually zero," Ibach said.
For more information check out the Nebraska Bureau of Animal Industry’s website set up for this quarantine.
Posted 06/12/09
